Leaders reign as weather rolls in

Leaders St Georges played a waiting game against Chester Road in the Furrows Shropshire Premier Bowls League - and boy did it pay dividends.

Heavy rain had left puddles on the Telford club's green last night, but they swept them off, started 35 minutes late - and then swept to an 11-3 win over the 2005 champions.

Meole Brace, the first side to beat the Dragons this season in midweek, slipped to a 9-5 defeat at Childs Ercall.

But they are still second, despite Ford joining them on 101 points - 23 behind St Georges - after a fine 10-4 home win over Castlefields to make it nine wins out of 11 fixtures to date.

Newport scored only their second win of the season, 9-5 against visiting Wrockwardine Wood, but stay bottom as Bylet picked up a battling five points in a close game up at Ifton's St Martins HQ.

Full scores

SJ Bayley 12 (+57, P Grimston 21-7), AWC 2 (A Beddoes 21-13); Wem USC 10 (M Evans 21-12), Donnignton Wood 4 (A Meredith 21-12); Newport 9 (+16, A Davidson 21-9), Wrockwardine Wood 5 (A Gaut 21-7); Ifton 9 (+13, Rocky Jones 21-4), Bylet 5 (T Steadman 21-9).

Ford 10 (+45, B Tarrell 21-2), Castlefields 4 (B Keep 21-11); Childs Ercall 9 (+21, G Wood 21-7), Meole Brace 5 (W Phillips & M Hinks 21-11); St Georges 11 (+71, C Grocott 21-5), Chester Road 3 (P Griffiths & M Lloyd 21-18).